I have too many hobbies

Once the piercings are done, he has to compose himself. A lot. Their nipples look even more perfect than usual; pebbled and a little flushed from the pressure. The piercings are basic; delicate silver bars decorating them perfectly. Just begging to be touched, to be tugged, to be bitten. The most torturous siren's song.

But no touching, the piercer says, as she watches Perpetua's eyes grow to the size of dinner plates. No touching, no kissing, no stimulation of any kind for at least a month. She makes this very clear, on pain of death. Perpetua promises solemnly, trying not to let his disappointment show too much. Callie, however knows him too well.

They smirk at this as they stand in front of the mirror; admiring themselves, and watching Perpetua fidget to cover his growing predicament. They blow him a teasing kiss as they turn back to face him, shimmying their shoulders slightly to make their breasts jiggle.

His jaw tenses so tight, Perpetua's surprised he doesn't crack a tooth. Callie snorts softly as they redress themselves; they're going to have fun with this...

So, of course, every time they don't need to be anywhere, they're making sure they wear the thinnest, most translucent shirts they can around Perpetua. Stretching, deliberately pressing their breasts into the material, and watching his grip tighten on whatever he's holding, sometimes to the point of breaking.

But their torture of him doesn't stop there.

'Accidentally' spilling things on their chest, and making a big deal of making him see how the wet material shows them off just so. Wearing the most beautiful underwear, delicate wisps of violet lace contrasting perfectly with the silver bars.

Taking nudes to send to him while he's rehearsing, making sure their tits are always the main focal point. Trying to be in Perpetua's lap whenever they fuck; torturing him with their breasts bouncing tantalisingly inches away from his face.

'Uh-uh... look, but don't touch, starlight~' they'd coo if he tried to grab a handful of them, then laughing at his frustrated groans. But when he's finally allowed to touch, oh how the tables turn.

He's delighted to explore the lengths of Callie's seemingly newfound sensitivity. He discovers the true extent while they're cuddled up on the couch together one night. He's so excited to be able to touch their chest properly again, he only just registers the small gasp at a brush of his fingers over the bar.

He tries again, this time deliberately taking the piercing between his forefinger and thumb and gently pulling. His name falls from their lips on a whimper, their back arching off the couch.

Interesting...

The next thing he knows, they're in his lap, the heat of their cunt pressing against the growing swell of his cock. Their eyes are wild, fire flashing behind icy blue, auburn hair cascading over their shoulders.

'Do that again,' they order, grabbing his wrist and guiding his hand back up their shirt, 'but try twisting this time. Please.'

It takes Perpetua's brain a moment to catch up with his lips; enamoured with the sinful sight above him, and the warm weight over his hips.

'Hmmm?'

They sigh in frustration, lacing their fingers over his and guiding him to squeeze the expanse of their breast.

'Val, I said twist,' they huff impatiently, 'I'm not going to fuckin' break. It's okay.' The promise is sealed with them capturing his lips in a searing kiss.

They rock their hips against him again, but this time Perpetua can feel their wetness seeping through. The tantalising slide of their cunt over him is sweetest torture, their motions mindlessly guided by his free hand. Shaking his head slightly to clear it, he finds the slim bar laced through a pebbled nipple and obeys. The effect is instantaneous.

'Fuck, that's it, that's it!' they babble. 'Keep going, don't stop, I'm gonna-'

They cry out, arching back as their release hits them. The warmth over his crotch grows as they rut against him, their slick soaking into the already ruined material. Perpetua groans as he looks down past the soft rolls of their stomach to where their hips meet, the outline of Callie's folds pressing obscenely against his aching cock.

They huff out an embarrassed laugh as they rest their head against his, utterly unaware of what they've just done to him.

'Well, fuck,' they breathe quietly, a dusky blush creeping up their neck, 'guess we've got something new for you to play with, huh?'

Perpetua doesn't bother dignifying that with an answer, rolling them gently sideways onto the couch. He tugs away the offending layers before pressing himself slowly into their still-pulsing heat, devouring their sighs of pleasure with hungry kisses.

'Oh, my love,' he murmurs wickedly against kiss-swollen lips, 'we're only just getting started.'

Hours pass around Copia though he stays standing still. He didn't know how long it was until he moved from his spot on the bed to lie down and happened to glance at the clock on his nightstand.

The silence that permeates through his apartment is oppressive. It pushes him down and keeps him from moving. Copia can still smell her in the pillows and rolls on his side to bury his face into one. Something breaks in his heart; maybe not literally but something isn't right.

For the first time in a very long time, Copia cries. It's an ugly one and he's happy to be alone for it.

"Please come back to me," he wails weakly. It's pitiful, he's aware, but it is what he deserves. Thoughts race in his mind; I should've warned her, I should've been gentle.

Copia stays curled in the fetal position for some time. He's not aware as time passes but it's long enough someone knocks on the door. He doesn't get up right away. A fleeting thought passes through him that it was a figment of his imagination.

But then there's another knock. Harder, insistent.

Copia flings himself out of bed. On one side of his head, his hair rides up, mussed from his wallowing on that side. Puffy and red eyes stare at the front door. Another knock starts up again.

"Sarah?" he whispers.

Don't be so hopeful, he chides himself.

To his discovery, Copia opens his door to see a ghoul. Their hands are clasped behind their back and they stand straight and still.

"Papa." They nod. "I'm here for some of Sarah's things."

And right there was the final blow to shatter his heart. He's sure the ghoul can hear it as he white-knuckles the doorknob. Copia attempts to pick up the pieces as the canvas bag is filled with clothes and her essentials. The ghoul works efficiently, silent and only asking questions to make sure he wasn't taking anything of Copia's.

"Take anything you want," he calls from the refrigerator. He probably needs some blood to center himself but nothing sounds good. In the door is the last bag of Sarah's blood she'd donated for him. Copia stares at it without a care about the cold getting out from the fridge.

Very carefully as if it were a live explosive, he picks it up. Copia's hand shakes; his lower lip wobbles. In an instant, the bag comes up to his lips and his fangs puncture through to the nectar within. He closes the door to the refrigerator with too much force and it jostles the bottles within. Their clinking goes unnoticed.

Copia drinks, ravenous and desperate. It's like she's there again. All is well with the taste of his love on his lips. Blood drips down in his haste and haphazard method. Normally he's drinking it with an air of reverence in a nice goblet. Now he growls, impatient and unsatisfied. Once the bag has been sucked clean, Copia leans against the counter. He dips his head back, groaning and heaving deep breaths. His mouth is covered in blood but he feels like he can breathe again.

The blood bag is tossed into the sink for later. He wets a paper towel and cleans his face and looks around to find the ghoul standing nearby with a stuffed bag.

"So," he clears his throat, "you're done, then?"

"Yes."

"Where is she?"

"Papa Terzo's apartment."

Sarah isn't far away. She's only down the hall. Copia isn't sure if that's better or worse.

"Thank you."

With that, the ghoul bows a few degrees and leaves.

Alone again.

He's not proud as anger bubbles up in his stomach. Copia can't think; it's only red rage that sits with him through the first few days of her absence. The ghouls can feel it wafting off him in waves. Their tails flick in anticipation for any attacks.

Anger mutes all other thoughts and attempts of rationality.

First, it's at Sarah for leaving. He did everything he could to make her feel safe! He checked in and let her have her time to adjust. How could she say she still needs more time? And last night, he only wanted to feel close to her again and Sarah dismissed him!

In an instant, the thought of blaming Sarah for everything makes his stomach turn. The blood he drank earlier comes up and he narrowly avoids making a mess on the carpet on the run to the bathroom. Copia rushes to the tub and drains his stomach of what he thought would be dinner.

Retching feels like a punishment from below like Lucifer himself is saying he's being stupid. His shriveled old heart hoped that this whole fiasco could've been avoided. As Copia leans with is back against the tub now, empty and exhausted, he knows this would've happened anyway.

Head in his hands, the last shreds of his self pity wash down the drain along with dinner.

He mumbles, "I'm sorry," over and over again until he can't.

Sarah wakes up with a headache and a twinge in her back.

And a fluffy cat on her stomach, purring as it sleeps and flicks the tip of her tail.

The cushions definitely need to be re-stuffed, Sarah finds out that morning.

Then the reality of last night falls down in her and she curls in on herself. A headache starts up. Copia was trying to bring something familiar to their situation and she had to go and break out the safe word. That’s what it’s for, she argues back to herself. It wasn’t wrong to say it. He respected it and backed off. So why does she feel like shit? There's a pull somewhere deep in her gut to go back but Sarah can't get herself up from the couch.

Amelia walks out in her robe, still wearing pajamas. “Good morning. How are you feeling?”

For once the question feels casual and not pointed at her situation with Copia.

She moves around the blankets on the couch and sits down, crossing her leg over the other knee. “We’re not working today, if you haven’t caught on yet.”

“Thanks. I feel… exhausted. Completely exhausted.”

“Is this couch that awful?” Amelia smirks. Purrzo jumps up into Amelia's lap and curls into her for pets and scritches.

Terzo comes through the doorway then, buttoning up his shirt. He faces the two women, holding out his arms. “Amore mio, this is my new shirt. Do you like it?”

He’s wearing a black pair of pants with a dark purple poet’s shirt tucked into his pants. Amelia bites her lip, giving Terzo a once-over that can only be described as hungry.

“You can’t wear that,” Amelia starts and his face falters. “at least not around others. I’ll be fighting off siblings with a stick and that's just not fair.”

The cat mrows as if to agree while Amelia absentmindedly pets her.

The worry in his eyes fades when her devilish smirk registers in his brain. “Oh, my apologies tesoro. I’ll only bring it out for private occasions.”

Sarah watches their flirting, the way they seem to focus only on each other despite having company. Terzo and Amelia swap clever barbs a few more times, absentmindedly fiddling with their matching rings before he turns to change into his regular garb. She marvels up to him from the couch, standing to kiss him goodbye.

“Be good.” Amelia kisses his cheek, trying hard not to ruin his paints.

“Am I ever not?” Terzo furrows his brows and smiles, leaning in to return a kiss to her cheek. He leans in to whisper something Sarah can’t hear and then looks back to Amelia with a concerned face.

She nods, taking his hand into hers and squeezes it. “I’ll let you know.”

Once he leaves, it’s just Amelia and Sarah as they scrounge around for breakfast. A ghoul shows up at her door at one point in the morning, holding up a travel bag.

Hers!

“Thanks!” Amelia says, grabbing the bag from him. The ghoul nods and turns to complete another task.

“Is that my stuff?” Sarah chimes in, standing from the couch.

Amelia gives the bag a wary glance. “Yes. It’s so you don’t have to risk meeting Copia when you’re not ready. You should have a few days’ worth of clothes in here.”

She nods, taking the bag. “Can I grab a shower, then? I really need to scrub yesterday off my body.”

“Of course! Let me show you the bathroom!”

Lucky for her, the Papal suites are very similar. It was easy to figure out the shower and after she turned the nobs, she waited for the water to get warm. In the mirror, her eyes look so bloodshot and tired and worn out; dark circles under her eyes reveal the restless nights she’s had in the past couple weeks. Sarah steps under the comforting spray of the shower and hopes the water and steam relax her tense muscles.

She can’t help but think of Copia, remembering what they’d be doing around this time of the morning. They’d spend all the time they can get before separating, lavishing each other with kisses and mumbled words of love. She wipes down her shoulder to her arm with the wash cloth, tracing the trail he might press with his lips and the tip of his nose, now less prominent.

The ghost of him cannot be exercised.

The Caedinal Copia in her head is fuzzy now. Her memories shift Copia back and forth from the old to the new. Sarah closes her eyes and shakes her head in an attempt to wipe the slate clean and start again. She tries to recall one of her memories of him, the one when he’d shown her his rats for the first time. The look on his face, oh, he was so nervous she’d be afraid or think they were creepy. The concerned look in his eye, the bit lip, Sarah had to lean forward to kiss the worry off his face.

It was the day they’d spent in his room after their first date. An entire day filled with soft cuddles and kisses. Tender touches were exchanged throughout and Sarah realized that was the moment she began to properly fall in love. Copia was so happy when she’d said she wanted to see him more. Then they’d kissed each other silly, giggles bubbling out between them as she sat in his lap, wanting to feel as close as she could.

“And now I can’t be near him without feeling sad,” Sarah whispers to herself, now only standing under the water. She stays in the shower a few more minutes before forcing herself to turn off the water. Sarah wraps her towel around her hair and body, stepping out of the shower with a sigh. “I’m so sorry.”

There’s a knock on the door, a little before noon. Amelia opens it, revealing Alex with a stuffed duffle bag in his hand. He's still in his pajamas, curly mop of dark hair in complete disarray as if he rolled out of bed and immediately walked to Amelia's.

“Ok, I've got just about every baking show imaginable on my hard drive, the good snacks, a stuffie, and like three different craft projects to rotate through when one gets boring.” He nods his head forward to let a pair of sunglasses fall over his eyes. “Let's fuckin' party."

Sarah’s eyebrows raise and she looks towards Amelia. "Oh, were you and Alex going to hang out today? I can go.”

"Slow your roll there, Sarah. These are for you. Well not the craft projects, but..." He puts his hands up

“For me?” she asks, holding a hand up to her chest.

“Obviously.” He begins his trek into the bedroom. “Ames, can I set up on the TV in here?”

Amelia follows him in, worried sounds coming from her mouth. “I, uh... Terzo doesn’t want visitors in his bedroom. It's a boundary of his—”

Alex scoffs. “What’s the issue? Am I going to find his stash of weird sex toys in the dresser?” She doesn’t answer right away and he turns to look at her, mouth open and pointing. “Stop—which drawer?”

She grumbles, “Fine you can set up in here. But make sure not to have any crumbs on the bed from your snacks. Terzo will notice.”

He nods and gets to work plugging in the hard drive to his laptop and then plugging in the laptop to the TV. After popping some popcorn and grabbing drinks, the three settle in the bed. Amelia and Sarah rest against the headboard and Alex lounges across the foot of the bed on his stomach. Purrzo jumps up and lies like a loaf on his back. It's her time to nap in the bedroom and she won't have her routine changed because someone is in her way.

“I downloaded a new series where they bake Halloween themed cakes. I’ll queue that one up first.” Alex navigates with his wireless mouse, clicking the first episode.

The three settle into a comfortable silence as they watch the intro, remarking every now and then about design choices. They all agree, fondant sucks.

"That icing witch looks gnarly."

"I could do a much better cream puff."

"Red velvet? groundbreaking."

"Blown sugar with five minutes left? Are they mad?"

Amelia’s phone chimes and she picks it up.

—

Copia: How is she?

 —

Amelia slams her phone screen towards her chest, alerting the others with the slap it makes. Alex and Sarah look towards her, curious.

“What do you have there? Did Terzo send a racy photo?” Alex snorts.

Amelia scrambles. “Sure.”

He rolls his eyes and they return back to the show.

 —

Amelia: It’s touch and go. We’re trying to have a relaxing day so she can take her mind off things.

Copia: She’s in my thoughts constantly today. Please take care of her for me.

Amelia: No need to tell me twice! She's in good hands.

 —

She puts down her phone and gets back to watching the show. Sarah glances to the screen right as it lights up with a new message. It’s from Copia. The words hit her right in the heart.

 —

Copia:

If I can’t do it anymore, please make sure she’s loved.

The ache in his jaw should've been the first sign.

Then the wobble in his hands as tries to take hold of a pen to write or his game controller to play.

Finally, Copia sits straight up in bed. The plushie version of himself falls sideways out of his grip. He reaches for his phone and dials one of his ghouls.

"Copia? Do you know what time it is?"

"I need to hunt."

"Ok, we'll set something up for lat—"

"I need to hunt now, Aether. I feel—fuck." Copia groans and clutches his stomach.

The ghoul sighs on the other end. "I'll see who's up."

And that's how, half an hour later, Copia and a gaggle of pajama-clad ghouls and ghoulettes huddle deep into the woods waiting for their directions. Cumulus didn't even have time to take out her rollers. The plan is simple, really. His nerves have reached a fever pitch and he needs to do something about it. Good old fashioned hide and seek.

The ghouls hide, he seeks. The first one he can find and get his hands on, loses. Their blood will be his meal.

"Even though your blood tastes disgusting—no offense."

Dew rolls his glowing, amber eyes. "No, obviously, how could we ever take that the wrong way."

Aether elbows him.

Then Copia covers his eyes, counts to give the ghouls time to hide, and then begins his hunt when the count ends at zero.

He starts tracking Dew first. The smoke scent lingers in the air leaving an obvious trail. Then another, more grassy scent vies for his attention. Copia struggles at a fork in the path and then both scents disappear altogether. He grumbles, growls, and continues deeper into the dense lush of the forest.

Antlers cross in the perifreal of his vision. Mountain? Are there even deer on the grounds? A joyous giggle echoes in the back of his skull just then and his mind feels foggy the next. Copia breathes heavy feeling the ache of his fangs. He winces and closes his eyes, scrunching up his face to distract from the pain.

It goes away and he can't believe it.

"Do you really need this, Copia?" Aether stands a few yards in front of him. He holds his hands out, no sign he intends to run or attack. "I don't think you can keep yourself in check right now."

Copia growls, "Care to test that theory out?" He winces again and nearly kneels on one knee from the pain returning in full force. His fangs are bared, sharp and long and ready to bite.

Aether takes one step forward.

Copia throws himself in reaction. They both crash to the ground. Small, dry leaves and twigs snap and crunch beneath their bodies. Aether groans at the feeling of being manhandled and thrashes as much as he can to get Copia off but the more ravenous vampire latches on with no intent to leave. He hisses at the ghoul, glowing red eyes staring him down.

"Shit!" Aether yells once Copia sinks his fangs into his upper arm. It was the first spot he found not covered in fabric. "Copia, wait—!"

More ghouls make their way out of the woodwork. Aether's legs kick for purchase and leverage to lift himself up and away but when Copia lifts himself up from the bite to hiss and growl a feral warning with his own blood dripping from Copia's mouth, Aether decides to stop. Copia descends back again, ripping his t-shirt first to bite over Aether's heart.

"Please!" Aether whines out into the dark. "Can you guys fucking do something?"

The pack springs into action grabbing around Copia. Mountain takes one for the team and reaches around the front of Copia's face to pull him back and have his mouth unlatch from Aether's body. It works for barely a second and then Copia is groaning deep in the back of his throat, looking around with wild eyes at who dared to interrupt him.

Cumulus and Dew kneel down to asses Aether. Swiss, Mountain, and Cirrus work together to restrain Copia.

"Break his neck!"

"What the fuck?"

"It'll just knock him out for a bit, trust me."

Copia flinches and looks around in a manic attempt to catch up to what's going on. He's defenceless to the strong hands that hold around his head and he starts to plead and whine.

"I'm sorry, Copia."

"Wait—!"

Darkness. Silence. Peace.

He's floating in a dream, he thinks. That can only be the explanation because he hears Sarah's soothing voice before she appears in front of him. She smiling, laughing. It feels far away even if she's standing right in front of him. It's like smoke, she sifts through his fingers when he reaches out. Then she looks up and horror melts her face. She starts to turn away and run. Copia calls out, begging—

"Sarah!"

He jolts up in bed, skin hot as the sun. Was the hunt all a dream?

"Good morning," Dew chirps.

It was real. Copia falls back to the bed with a thud. "Shit." His neck hurts like hell.

"You owe Aether a massive apology." Dew slouches in his chair and crosses his arms. "All of us, really. What the fuck was that, man?"

"I lost control."

"Duh."

He rolls to his side to face Dew. "I thought for once I could…" The words die on his tongue. He could what? Feel better? Fix himself?

Dew sighs and stands. "You really should've given us more time to make a plan."

"Wh-where are you going?"

He's halfway through the doorway. Dew looks back over his shoulder. "I'm getting some blood—ghoul blood—for you to drink. Take your medicine, Papa."

Sarah is late for work and rushes to the studio. She'd heard Amelia puttering around in the morning but Amelia goes in early.

Her alarm didn't go off and she woke up two hours into the workday.

Her footsteps tap heavily on the marble floor. She speed-walks and isn't paying attention to her surroundings. Next thing Sarah knows, she's colliding with a firm body dressed in Papal robes.

"I'm so sorry, Papa, I—"

It's Copia.

She stumbles back and holds her hands nervously. They haven't seen each other in a few days; Copia can hear the rabid pump of blood in her heart as she stares up to him. Instinct tells him to reach out and brush the stray lock of Sarah's hair back behind her ear. Reality crashes in, unsubtle and abrupt at the sight of her.

Dark circles under the eyes, missing warmth from her cheeks, and no light behind her eyes. A small part of him scolds the other that wants to feel comfortable knowing he's not the only one in complete misery.

"I had a bad night. I woke up late… Papa."

He raises an eyebrow, taken aback. "Papa?" She's not sleeping well.

"That's what you are, right? In the daytime…"

"Well. Yes, I suppose..."

Sarah slips away when the silence gets to be too painful and he's lost in thought about her response. He starts up to say something only to realize he's alone in the hallway and talking to himself now.

Don't think about him, you were doing so well, she says to herself. Even if she hasn't figured out how to sleep through the night.

And definitely don't think about how his eyes looked bloodshot. It's her only clue to see if he's affected by her absence just as much as she is. When Sarah gets to the studio, she's barreling through the door and goes straight to her table. It's a ministry mending day and she gets started on her pile to keep her thoughts at bay.

A month of progress starts to crack and crumble.

Sarah's phone chimes.

—

Jack: yeah i'm free to talk. What's up?

Sarah: i'm not sure how to say it.. Copia and I had a fight.

Jack: do you want me to make a visit? I can come kick his ass for making my little sister upset

Sarah: it's not his fault. There was… magic involved

—

Sarah feels herself wanting to shrink the longer the little bubbles float on screen.

—

Jack: oh, right. Your vampire boyfriend got promoted and had to use some fancy magic? I have no idea how you're going to explain all of this to mom and dad

Sarah: I got through to you!

Jack: only because of the bite mark you showed me and a video of Copia's fangs growing. I was about to book tickets for the loony bin

Jack: so what happened?

Sarah: his face changed. It was right after coming home and we couldn't go to his apartment. they moved us immediately into a new place.

Jack: yeah that… that'll do it.

Jack: you weren't able to get used to it and he got mad?

Sarah: yes. But no?

Jack: tell me. I still kinda want to kick his ass

—

She snorts.

—

Sarah: he forgot to tell me the ascension ritual could change him. it doesnt always show up physically. We were BOTH ambushed by the apartment, though.

Sarah: so his face changed slightly and it was enough to terrify me the next morning. we both found out… at the same time. EVERYONE seemed fine with it.

Jack: everyone but you.

Sarah: yup. I'd see flirty hellos to Copia from clergy that never gave him the time of day before it happened.

Jack: those hussies!

Sarah: Copia gave me space and did his best to be there but it all got… foggy. 2 weeks after it happened he came home after a fancy dinner and tried to get flirty. I just. I couldn't do it.

Sarah: and dont call them that

Jack: … he didn't try anything did he…?

Sarah: NO. God, jack, no never. He backed off when I needed him to. But then I left and things are… awkward.

Jack: how?

Sarah: I see him in the halls and call him his title. We haven't actually talked or texted or really anything. and do you want to know what's so strange?

Jack: I know you're gonna tell me

Sarah: smartass

Jack: what are brothers for?

Sarah: I miss him. Every day.

—

It's silent again for a moment. There are no bubbles, no attempts to call. Then miraculously, the typing bubbles appear.

—

Jack: talk to him. I dunno how but I know it'll make you feel better.

Sarah: I was hoping you wouldn't say that. :(

Jack: maybe not *right now* but soon. I doubt you feel ready to go back to "normal" but this long away is eating at you.

Sarah: I haven't slept well since I left.

Jack: do you have your sleeping meds?

Sarah: yes.

Jack: maybe actually take them.

Sarah: you suck

Jack: love you too, Sarah

--

The next time the fates decide to play a cruel joke on her, Sarah has chosen the short straw to ask Copia something. Amelia is in the process of designing a new jacket for the next tour and she wants some input on a very early mockup.

Something about tassels.

Swatches in hand, Sarah walks with every step to his office as if she's walking to her death. She takes slow steps as much as she can to allow time to psych herself up. She can do this! She's already starting to feel some control of her anxieties, to let it ebb and flow on and off of her. A small part of her even wants to see him. Maybe they can talk.

Sarah knocks on his office door and waits. There isn't any call out to her to come in, it's silent for the most part other than a mumble. Curious, she opens his office door.

A gasp pulls out of her chest when she gets a look of the inside.

Copia is at his desk and a ghoul is standing next to him with their arm out. He's bitten into their exposed wrist and drinks with an insatiable thirst. Loud gulps and hums filter out but he stops on a dime, freezing to see who the intruder is.

In a flash, he goes from annoyed to guilty. Thick, black blood from the ghoul is smeared on his face, making a mess of his paints. Copia wasn't neat at all, diving in without a care to feed. Sarah knows he prefers fresh blood in an emergency and she recalls his eyes the other day.

Has he been starving himself? Is this the only way he can feed?

"I'll come back later," rushes out and Sarah turns to leave them with their privacy.

Copia doesn't run after her, too embarrassed to have been caught this way. The feeling of betrayal makes his nerves run cold. He can easily explain what was going on!

The ghoul next to him starts cleaning up their wrist with some of the tissues on Copia's desk.

"I don't think she's that upset," Dew murmurs while he's occupied with himself.

Copia turns his head slowly to glare.

Sarah rushes back to the studio after that, on the verge of tears even though she can't even understand why. He needs to feed, more when he's stressed, Sarah knows that. She wants to be there for him like she always did when he needed blood. Copia always made sure she was so comfortable when he bit her. It was intimate and special, begun with a sweet kiss. The feeding she walked in on in his office was cold, impersonal.

Desperate.

There's light coming out from the window of the sewing studio. Copia, on his way home and curious as ever, walks up to see if anyone just left a light on before they all left for the day. He stops and peers in.

Sarah is hunched over her machine, flickering between sleep to being awake as she jolts up, blinks rapidly, and reorients herself. She yawns and reaches for her water bottle before getting back to the project under the needle.

Copia feels an odd sense of deja-vu settle over him. Memories of when they'd first met, catching her working late and how he would walk Sarah to her dorm. It feels so long ago when they were sharing soft glances and timid kisses to the cheek. The nostalgia makes Copia sigh.

The small sound in the quiet wing caries further than it normally would. Sarah perks her head up and comes face-to-face with Copia watching her. He's nothing but sweet and sorry for making her feel like she's been watched while he waves his hands in some apologetic way.

"Copia?" she mouths. Sarah rolls back and starts to stand but he vanishes from sight by the time she makes it to the door.

Did I hallucinate that? she wonders.

After her brief haunt, she notices how late it is and rushes to clean her table. Maybe Amelia will have something she can eat before she goes to bed. Sarah gets back to her temporary refuge, eternally grateful for them both. She opens their door quiet as possible but yet again, luck is not on her side.

Amelia has Terzo backed into the kitchen counter. Though she's shorter than him by several inches, she manages to keep him pinned in place. An empty pint of ice cream with two spoons sits on the kitchen table nearby.

Terzo leans back an inch for breath. "I always knew redheads were feisty."

"What on Earth do you mean?" she jests. "I only wanted one kiss."

He smirks. "Like you weren't just—Sathanas!" Terzo yelps and jumps where he stands. For some reason his hands fly up to cover his chest despite being fully covered.

Amelia turns to find Sarah with her hands over her face and sitting on the couch. "I'm sorry!" she cries out in a panic. "I can put in headphones if you'd like?"

Terzo's face melts into a deadpan but before he can say anything, Amelia covers his mouth with her palm.

"We were actually just about to go to bed, Sarah. Did you get your work done?"

"Most of it... I think I saw Copia in the window at one point, though?"

"Oh!"

Terzo pulls Amelia towards their room and calls back quickly, "How strange—goodnight, sorella!"

Amelia tries to get a word in but it's too late. Once they're in their room with the door closed, the conversation is over. It didn't look like Sarah was upset, more shocked at the way it all happened so fast. She's too tired to be offended.

—

Amelia: Sorry about him. He gets cranky when he's tired.

Sarah: No problem. Goodnight, Amelia.

—

"Want to pick up where we left off, eh?" Terzo leers as he kisses from the end of Amelia's shoulder up to the curve of her neck.

"Not really, caro."

"Okay." He shrugs and drops it. Terzo turns forward to sink into his pillows. Amelia is curiously silent for a while; he looks over and all she's doing is staring forward with her brows furrowed. "Amore?"

She hums. "It's nothing. Just thinking."

"About what? I'd like to know."

"What else? Sarah and her… situation."

"And how we can speed up the reunion process?"

She shakes her head side to side. "Not exactly."

"I worry that we'll be stuck in limbo with those two. And not just because I want privacy again." Terzo leans in and lowers his voice. "It's been almost two months."

"This is a bump in the road. The kind of bump that makes you think your car is broken but all it did was knock some things loose. It's still drivable at the end of the day." Amelia shifts and rolls on her side towards Terzo. He welcomes her immediately and she gets comfortable with her head on his chest.

He brushes his fingers through her silky copper hair. "When was the last time you had your car serviced?"

"That's not the point right now, Terzo."

"What is?"

Amelia ponders that. "She's getting better, I think. Time away is doing Sarah some good but I worry she'll get too complacent like this. I don't want to push her more than she can handle, though."

"I saw Copia today."

Amelia turns to look up at him, eyes wide. "What did he say? How is he?"

"He is not well, Amelia. The loneliness and silence tortures him, tesoro; he feels like a crucial piece of him, his humanity, is missing. I said I could relate."

She hugs tight around Terzo. They know all to well what it feels like.

And it took them two years to find their way back due to Amelia's own stubbornness.

Terzo sneaks into the living room after Amelia has left for work. Sarah is gathering the last things she needs and putting on her shoes to leave. He slinks over and drops to the couch, startling her.

"Have you ever been to confession, Sarah?"

She's frozen at her shoe and narrows her eyes. "A couple times."

"No need to worry. We don't require you to do it. But I hear it can be, eh, cathartic." He crosses his leg over the other.

He's not done, she realizes. He's settling in.

Terzo starts up again, "Very often we have things we're keeping inside and rarely do we talk about it. As a leader of this church, I am tasked with being the receiver of such things."

"Is this about Copia?"

"It it, yes." He nods solemnly.

Sarah sighs, deep and weary, like she knew this was coming. "I've been stalling."

"You have. Amelia tells me your anxiety is getting easier to manage? How are you with the face thing?"

"I think…" Sarah trails off. The words feel crammed in her head, unable to be properly sorted to come out. Her next breaths come out shaky. "I'm scared."

"Of what?"

Terzo turns to her and he's stunned. Sarah's heavy tears spill from her eyes, streaking down her cheeks. She's blubbering and can't take a breath long enough to even her breathing. Her arms cross over her stomach and she curls inward.

"Oh, per favore ti prego, come here, Sarah. It's okay, hm?" Terzo scoots and wraps an arm around her. Sarah follows and hides in his shoulder, soaking the fabric of his shirt with tears and snot.

"I'm sorry," she replies weakly. "Your shirt…"

"It's no problem."

He holds Sarah close, rubbing her back and letting her know it's fine to cry, to let out everything she's bottled up inside. Terzo waits until she's quieted and hears her breathing even out. He dips his head down.

Sarah manages to find her voice and says, "I want to go back but I don't know if I'm ready."

"Do you still love him?"

Immediately, "Yes," she breathes in a deep breath. "Even if I couldn't look at him. I think that's why it hurt so much."

"You say you want to go back?"

Sarah nods. "Every time I think about it I feel paralyzed. And then my thoughts spiral. What if he actually hates me? What if he sees me and—and—a-and I—" She loses control and breathes in and out rapidly, chasing her breath.

Terzo ushers her back into him and she clings around his waist.

"Despite all of this, Sarah, Copia is still absolutely besotted. He dreams of your return every night."

Fresh, heavy tears begin to fall again. Sarah feels wrung out and spent. Terzo urges her to grab comfier clothes and relax at home today. He sends a quick text to Amelia and fills a glass of water for the table. Sarah pulls a blanket up as Terzo sits on the edge of the couch.

"Come to confession later, Sarah? Think all of this over and if you're comfortable, we can talk about it. I promise, it can set you free, in a way."

Sarah blows her nose into a tissue. "Okay."

Terzo leaves the apartment and makes his way to the music studio. There's a lovesick vampire that needs something. Or someone. The next album isn't due for a bit but without anywhere else to be, and with a new home that is devoid of the warmth Sarah gifts wherever she goes, Copia holes up in the studio. Sometimes he naps on the couch and hopes sleep will have him waking up closer to the end of his nightmare.

Creaking, old hinges of the door alert Copia of a visitor. Any lingering feeling of hope dissipates when Terzo comes into view.

A tired grumble leaves Copia. "What are you here for?" He can smell Sarah's shampoo on him and it's bittersweet. "Stay however long you want."

"Copia, something important came up and I need you to cover my confessional duty tonight."

He wants to turn it down but what else does he have to do? Copia sighs, "Fine. I'll cover for you."

Terzo grins far too wide for a simple favor. "Excellent."

"Do you always ask me because I don't need to sleep?"

"Yes."

And then Terzo spins and leaves the studio, a squeaky hinge following after. When the confessional hour rises upon him, Copia trudges down to the chapel. It's the middle of the week and he bargains there won't be as many siblings once word gets around that it isn't Terzo tonight. He brings his notebook and pen and jots down the odd lyric inspiration that comes when he isn't playing games on his phone.

Over the evening, he manages to have a few visitors. Most of them assume it's Terzo until Copia speaks, only to hear and sense their overall disappointment. They follow up anyway with pleasant conversation and he helps with any worries or celebrates achievements. It's getting near midnight and he starts to adjust side to side in his seat. Confession is almost over and then he has to—what?—go home and sit in more silence?

Copia's head shoots up, then, at the sound of the doors opening and closing. And that same shampoo. Terzo? Confession is almost over.

The door on the other side opens, clicks closed, and the late night visitor takes a deep breath before rambling without any sign she wants to be interrupted.

"I'm sorry, Terzo, for coming so late. I kept going back and forth and back and forth and finally made myself walk over. I was just in the garden hoping fresh air would help clear my mind but then I walked past our bench and I—" Sarah takes another breath.

"Hm?" Copia tries to sound like Terzo. He's not sure if he has the voice down right.

She lets out a dry chuckle, "I thought again about going to see Copia."

Again?

Hope starts to bloom anew in his chest. Oh, he could survive the separation just with this knowledge alone.

"What did you conclude?" he murmurs like Terzo.

"I sat down on the bench and so many memories flashed by. I can't—I don't want to just throw away everything. But I—"

"Do you… love him—still—I mean?" Copia winces. He clings to the silence on the other side with a vice grip. There's a chuckle muttered softly through the wood.

"I haven't changed my answer since this morning."

Shit.

Sarah adjusts in her spot and the old wood creaks. "I'm worried that even if I go back, things will be different. Bad different. I constantly wonder if leaving was the wrong option and that it makes me look selfish and we can't go back to how things once were. I worry he loves me less and then not at all, that he resents me and would rather I stay away forever."

"I—uh," his clothes rustle and he makes a fuss to get up. "Hold on for one moment."

That voice. Those little mumbles, Sarah realizes. She sits up straight and braces herself for what's to come.

Deep breath in, long sigh out.

The act is slow when the door to her side opens. In front of her now is Copia, back-lit by the warm candlelight of the chapel. They're both frozen where they are, about a foot of space between them before Copia drops to his knees with a weary thud.

"Copia," she whispers from shock.

He shakes his head and reaches out for her. Sarah rests her shaky hands in his gloved palms and he squeezes them tight. Copia bows and presses his forehead to her hands before sitting back up.

His breaths come out, shuddered like he can't believe this is happening. "I would never resent you."

The Papal paint on his face hides the nuances of his expression, but even still, Copia is the picture of devotion and it pours out from his eyes. One would think he is the one in need of absolution in the way he grips Sarah's hand and gazes longingly up to her. His lips are parted barely a centimeter. Something about the moment inspires Sarah to stand. Copia follows and they both walk to the first row of pews within reach.

They both spar with hesitant chances to talk, trading breaths before going to speak, only to quiet and turn shy.

"It feels rude to ask how you've been but—"

Copia bursts with a laugh like it was trapped inside. "I have not been great." It's creaky and uneven as he says it.

Sarah deflates. She slouches down, twiddling with her fingers in her lap. "Sorry…"

"So…" He turns to pat Sarah's knee but stops right above, centimeters from making contact. Copia glances up to her and she gives an nodded okay. "How have you been?"

She shrugs noncommittally. "I've been better." The touch of his hand on her knee has a swarm of heat flip around in her stomach.

Copia hums a surprised but agreeable breath of laughter. He turns to look forward. They both sit in the pew, silent, thinking. He can sense she needs a minute and observes the random details of the chapel. The stained glass, the lit candles, the scratched pew back in front of him. Sarah takes a deep breath.

"I take it Terzo talked to you about… this."

"He doesn't want me to stay worried and frozen, torn in the what-ifs."

"He wants his privacy back, eh?" Copia nudges her shoulder.

Sarah snorts. "Maybe that too. A little."

It feels so refreshing to laugh with him. Together like this, for even a brief moment, she forgets everything. Sarah turns to look at him, to take in everything of the man she loves and is terrified to be with again. His eyes seem more hollowed and the paint is smudged where black meets white. He must've been in the studio, she thinks, worrying over lyrics and rubbing his eyes. The black around his sockets mixes with the white to make a gray splotch.

Still no sign of his fangs.

"I'm sorry."

Sarah startles out of her stupor. "About what?"

"Everything, I guess." Copia fidgets and the pew creaks under his weight. "For what you witnessed me doing in my office... Feeding."

"I'm not sure you need to—"

"No, I want to. I wasn't quite myself for a while. I had to go on a strict feeding schedule with the ghouls."

She nods and looks down to her hands. There's another pause between them, like either one is on the precipice of something important and it terrifies them. As if on cue, Sarah and Copia turn their heads to look at the other.

"Copia?"

"Yes?" he answers immediately, pleading with his eyes for something good. He hangs onto the next words out of her mouth.

"I think—I mean I know now—that I…" Sarah feels choked up and closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, "I'd like to start again."

In that moment, Copia would swear angels—or the infernal equivalent—were singing. He feels like he needs to run? "A-are you sure?" Is he sure he heard that right?

Compelled by an unnamed desire, Sarah nods and scoots closer. She rises her hand and presses her palm to his chest, feeling the sturdy form underneath. This is the first time she's touched him since that night. Copia sneaks in to cradle her cheek and she gasps at its gentle whispered touch against her cheek; he took off his gloves and she feels his soft, cooling touch against her warm skin.

Sarah leans in. Tears well up before she knows it and they spill over. Copia's thumb brushes delicately along her cheek to wipe some away.

"I've missed you so much," she sniffles.

"Me, too," he replies in a sigh. "Every day, every second."

Sarah leans forward and Copia wraps his arms around her. He tucks her head under his chin and pets down her hair, soothing her through the tears that soak his clothes. Sarah has cried on two Papas today; that has to be a ministry record, she wonders between sobs.

As much as he would hate to admit, Copia feels like something has slot back into place with his arms around Sarah and her weight against his. Yes, she's sobbing and terrified, but he's here for her and can hold her and console her. This is everything Copia wanted and yet there is still a distance they have to work on overcoming.

"It's okay, dolcezza," he murmurs into her hair. His lips graze her hairline.

That hushed, ever-so gentle pet name almost has fresh tears falling. Sarah eventually pulls away; her eyes are red and wet, nose is boogery, but she smiles. It's small, but it's there. Copia holds down his sleeve and wipes at her nose and she thanks him with a quiet mumble.

"Would you like some company on the walk to Terzo and Amelia's?"

She's relieved to hear he's not pushing her to come home. "I think that's a good idea."

Copia grins. He stands and holds out his arm for her to loop hers through. She does, and her heart twists in her chest. Sarah looks over and Copia is already there, looking at her. He's so charming despite the paint hiding his face that it makes her ache. As the time went on, she was able to think about Copia with the new face. It isn't easy by any means, at least not yet.

But now she can bring herself to look. His green and white eyes, his smile with adorably crooked teeth, some of the cheek that lingers from before with an almost faded scar at his chin. It's all Copia. Not bad, just… different. She's starting to feel like she can get used to it.

"I'm nervous."

Copia hums as they make their way out of the chapel. "For the walk home?"

Sarah shakes her head and rolls her eyes. "For this. Whatever this… is."

"Maybe it's a new beginning? It's spring, after all. A time for rebirth." He bops Sarah's hip with his. "And I'll be there if you need me."

She tightens her arm around his. It's like a quiet "okay" between them while they walk down the halls into unfamiliar territory. A relationship like this isn't anything Sarah's ever had. Even through the worry and fear, the love she held for Copia never went away. It lingered around the edges as a vignette in an old photo.

One night, alone, on an old and lumpy couch was when Sarah had realized. The fear was so strong because she loved him so much. Seems obvious now but in hindsight, it felt like a revelation. The feeling of fear for how she felt about him was replaced with a new one nearly seconds later. Her heart raced. She had to sit up and take deep breaths.

Dread made a home at the thought that he wouldn't take her back. For him, this relationship is a drop in the bucket of his life. Who's to say he can easily kick attachments? They hadn't talked at all, nothing of importance since tonight. She'd called him Papa in the hall! He could've considered that her final decision. An impersonal title spoken between former lovers.

No.

Her fears were squashed the moment Copia opened her door in the confession booth and got on his knees. He surrendered to her at the first opportunity, hugged her tight and let her know his affection never faded.

"I guess this is where I take my leave." He gestures to Amelia and Terzo's door. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't realize how soon the walk would be over.

"Thank you, Copia."

He bows slightly, still holding onto her hand. Copia looks up, asking with his eyes. His thumb rubs at Sarah's knuckles and when he rises back to a standing position, Sarah nods. It's small but he catches it just in time.

Copia moves slowly, pulling her hand closer. His cool lips brush against Sarah's wrist and pauses. She sucks in a sharp breath; the touch feels foreign and familiar all at once. The blood in her veins pumps quickly beneath his lips. Copia inhales her scent, her blood. He can't control the way he shudders as he breathes out.

Then Copia lets her hand go.

Sarah's blush is obvious.

"I—um—I think I should go inside now."

"Until next time."

Next time.

She opens the door to go inside only to find Terzo on the couch with Amelia lying her head in his lap. She's sound asleep, soothed by the gentle combing of his fingers through her hair. Terzo looks up at the right time to catch Copia walking off, eyes wide at being caught.

Sarah closes the front door, quiet and without a fuss. She faces it for a moment, acutely aware that she's experiencing the same embarrassing shame she faced as a teenager when her dad caught her sneaking in after a date that went well past curfew. Deciding when it's time to face the music, Sarah turns around. Terzo isn't frowning nor is he disappointed.

He's calm. His hand brushing through Amelia's hair pauses, earning a sleepy murmur of displeasure below. Terzo returns his petting after a light tut back.

"Was confessional… enlightening?" he whispers. Sarah nods. "Good."

She's blushing deep crimson. "You can probably tell… We are seeing if I can come back to him."

"If?"

His eyebrow raise is loud.

"Um. When I can come back."

"Good." Terzo starts to move and shakes Amelia with a tender jostle. "Tesoro, we need to leave the couch."

She grumbles, "But we were here first." Her groaning only grows once she's being ushered to get up and stand.

As he guides her, Terzo curls his arm around Amelia's waist. "I'll make it worth your while, Amelia mia."

Then a ginger peck of a kiss to smooth things over and she's melted into him again.

After that fateful night, things don't return to complete normal but they don't stay the same. Sarah still sleeps at Amelia's; they've finally upgraded the couch to something more comfortable. Time seemed to pass quickly in her tenure there after a couple months of worry and fear swirled into a storm.

And then finally the clouds parted.

To know just how much turmoil Copia was going through made her see just a bit past the fog and anguish. She was like his north star, Sarah realized, and Copia was stuck, dark after that night.

Now when she sees Copia, some of those butterflies return. The sunshine on her skin feels brighter, warmer. Sarah still can't sleep through the night, though.

One afternoon a few days after the night of her confessional, Copia had to come by for a new suit fitting. Amelia wasn't there so Sarah had to do the heavy lifting while Alex filled in as her assistant. The little jabs she made to him making her do extra work were merely in jest. She didn't mean anything with actual anger behind it.

And when Copia saw Sarah staring at him in the reflection of the mirror, she thought about the very beginning. Just like that moment, her heart raced and she had to flick her eyes elsewhere. Copia caught her red-handed.

That evening, Sarah decided to stay late. She couldn't focus for a while after Copia's visit and lagged behind. Amelia said it was fine, just lock up as always. Close to midnight, her phone chimes.

The sender? Copia. He's up too.

They're trying to go slow and texting is a part of that. It's simple, no pressure communication and typically it's him sending photos of his rats who apparently miss her dearly. But now, in the late hours of the night, Copia's text is one more of concern.

—

Copia: What are you doing up so late?

—

There's a knock to the studio door. Copia waves through the window and lets himself in. Casually, he leans against the wall, arms crossed. His posture isn't angry and he only frowns. Sarah's eyes droop and he can sense a lingering exhaustion in her body she's trying to hide.

"I was about to leave."

"Likely story."

A slow grin graces his new features and Sarah bows her head, admitting a silent defeat. It takes only minutes and she's pulled into his gravity, taking his outstretched hand into hers. He's taken to removing his gloves just for her when they're alone like a little secret between them.

It shocks Sarah sometimes how easy it is to be around him again. They're not back to the level of affection as before but they know it'll get there. Sarah thought Terzo was joking when he said confession could be cathartic but maybe he was right. But every time Copia leans into her personal space, he can sense a spike of anxiety in the rapid beating of her heart. Sarah thinks he might try to kiss her. He knows that's still a long way to go, though, but perhaps she wants him to just go for it when he catches her looking at his lips.

Until he tries, it's only wishful thinking.

"May I walk you home?"

Sarah nods right away, quickly. "Please?"

Copia's features melt. His smile spreads wide and his eyes shine with nothing other than love. They don't hold hands often but tonight their bodies just seem to gravitate together. Sarah slides her palm in against Copia's and he rubs her hand with his thumb. She mirrors him a few seconds later.

"The rats miss you."

She sighs. "Tell them I'm sorry."

Copia bops her with his elbow. "They know it's only temporary."

Right?

"Maybe…"

He jerks his head to look at her. "Maybe?"

Sarah blushes and looks away. "Maybe I could see them?"

"Come by the apartment later this week?" Copia waits for her but hesitation clouds over anything she'd say. "O-or we could meet at Amelia's??

"She has a cat."

"Oh." Should he risk it? "Is the cat friendly?"

She nods.

They continue down the hall in silence.

"The practice room?"

"That sounds good."

A week later, the time to reunite arrives. Tonight Sarah gets to say hello to the rats: Rigatoni the 10th and Bella.

Things are quiet in the studio. Amelia and Sarah toil away at their machines, cleaning and servicing them. They're having a contest on who can gather the most lint.

Amelia's baking scale was brought to get an accurate measurement down to the gram.

Something breaks the spell at one point. A soft tapping to the door makes everyone look up. Copia walks in, sheepish, and greets them.

"Hello. I, eh," he glances towards Sarah and she perks up. "I have a button that fell off my shirt cuff. Could I get help sewing it back on?"

Sarah stands too fast and knocks the edge of her table. Her knee hurts and now Alex and Amelia are staring, wide-eyed, but she waves Copia closer to her table. She grabs an extra stool for him and sits back down, blushing like a fool for standing. He rolls up to her while Sarah readies a needle and thread.

Copia holds out his arm and rotates his wrist to show where a button should be. Their eyes connect and they share a quick, awkward smile.

Amelia and Alex go back to their work but keep one nosy ear open.

"This shouldn't be long," Sarah mumbles.

"T-take your time." He looks down to where her fingers graze the inside of his wrist as she brings the needle up through the fabric. The brief touch of her warmth feels like a satisfying burn. He wants to be wrapped in the heat of her body, to tuck his head into the crook of her neck and feel her fingers comb through his hair as they watch a movie on the couch.

Sarah hums and it takes him out of his daydream.

"You're staring."

"Oh." Copia flicks his eyes off to the side. "Sorry."

"S'fine." Sarah shrugs. There's a faint, knowing quirk in the corner of her lips.

Tension pulls tight between them. Every few, fleeting seconds, they catch each other staring.

"You never learned how to stitch a button back to your shirts?"

Copia glances at her as if to scold fondly. "I rarely ever needed to. It was only recently I'd been in situations where my buttons would be forced off."

"Forced?" Sarah raises her eyebrows and tilts her head. She sounds incredulous.

He smirks and leans in to whisper, "I have a very passionate, impatient, lover."

His ear so close and his breath so warm makes electricity shoots down her spine. She breathes in a deep, in and out, and asks in a small voice, "Have?"

Copia shrugs and leans back cooly. "If she doesn't mind stitching up my buttons again and again."

"Copia," Sarah scolds him back. "You really should know how to do this for yourself, though."

"You could teach me some time. Old dogs and new tricks and such."

Whatever possesses her in this moment, it emboldens her with courage she didn't know she had. Sarah sits up in her seat and looks at him, eye-to-eye. Copia matches her with a curious raise of his eyebrow.

"I could teach you."

His eyes open wide for the briefest of moments. "Yes?" Don't push it. See what happens.

"A crash course."

"Really?" It takes incredible strength to suppress the eagerness that wants to ooze out.

"Tonight, when I get to see the rats. I'll bring a small kit and show you."

Alex's steady typing slows and Amelia pretends to fiddle around with her seam ripper. They can't help but watch the soap opera in front of them.

Copia smiles sheepishly down to his lap. "I guess it's a… date."

Sarah gasps, gentle and full of surprise, and her cheeks flush. Copia's smile spreads as she nods. "It's a date."

He leaves shortly after once his cuff is ready. They part at the door and when she's alone, Sarah looks back into the studio. Her soft happy bubble is burst as she comes back to the present.

Amelia raises her eyebrows and coos, "A date!" She returns to her machine. "Will I be expecting you home late?"

Sarah responds through her embarrassment with a curt, "Yes."

Amelia snickers under her breath.

For the remainder of the day, concentration eludes Sarah. She tries with all her might but it never sticks. While Amelia and Alex wrap up their work for the day and tidy up whatever they can of their desks, Sarah is still toiling away to make sure she isn't behind. She barely hears them as they bid her goodnight.

And as the eleventh hour looms, Sarah gathers scrap fabric, needles and thread, and a handful of buttons. She puts them in a small sewing basket for her trip down to the music rehearsal room where she agreed to meet up with Copia.

This'll be the longest stretch of time she's had alone with Copia since the whole… confession happened. But underneath the anxiety, giddiness flickers weakly and tries to burn steady.

Sounds of mumbles and errant piano keys get louder with each step Sarah takes to the practice room. She doesn't notice the fond smile spreading on her face until she reaches the door. Her cheeks hurt, an ache she forgot could feel so good. Sarah smiles wider when she hears Copia talking to the rats.

"Soon, bambinos. Mama Sarah will get to hold you again, I promise."

Oh, that has her clutching her chest. He's always so soft and gentle with them. The click of the door has Copia's ear perking up to the noise. He turns on the creaking bench and one could only describe it as adoration shining in his eyes.

And then Sarah notices where the rats are. They're walking along the piano keys.

"Are you teaching them to play?"

"Hm?" He raises an eyebrow.

"The rats on the keys, Copia."

He turns back and calls out in surprise. "I've taught them everything I know."

Sarah's giggle that follows is pure music to his ears and hugs around him like a warm blanket. She sits next to him in the space he created on the bench and her basket rests on the floor by her feet. The first order of business is seeing to the adorable creatures sniffing and twitching their nose at her.

Bella squeaks at her hand as she holds it out. The black fluff ball always loves to curl up in her lap and it seems time apart hasn't let the desire fade. She runs up Sarah's arm all the way up to her shoulder. Her nose nudges at Sarah's cheek and she squeals, tickled by the fuzzy snout.

"I missed you, too, my little girl," she coos. Bella ends up in Sarah's lap, her tail curled around herself and content to stay as Sarah pets down between her ears.

Rigatoni the 10th, an angel with white and gray fur, spent the first portion of his time with Sarah just… taking it in as if he was imagining it. He even turns and squeaks to Copia.

"It's real, Tony." Copia nods towards her. "Sarah in the flesh."

Rigatoni takes it as final confirmation and jumps from the piano into Sarah's hand to plop down. He sniffs her palm and licks it once, twice. Little ratty kisses.

Copia can feel far too much emotion in Sarah's voice when she apologizes to them. She is so soft and remorseful. With a tentative hand, he rises it up to rub circles into Sarah's back. She jumps at first contact and Copia is prepared to stop but she never tells him to. She even leans into him and rests her head on the end of his shoulder.

Copia reaches over and pets Bella. She boggles slightly and he coos.

"We can do the button tutorial whenever you're ready," Sarah whispers.

"What if we skip it tonight?"

Sarah frowns. "But I brought supplies."

"I know. I saw your cute basket." Copia squeezes her shoulder and she snorts. "What shall we do about the rats?"

She straightens up and begins picking up Rigatoni but he won't budge from his spot next to Bella. They're curled around each other and determined to stay in her lap for as long as she's sitting down. In the end, they manage to make it work. The rats nap unbothered as Sarah reaches down for her notions.

Copia brings the lid down for the keys and they use it as their table. Sarah spreads out a matching set of needles, thread, buttons, fabric, and a weird plastic thing with a cut out.

"I took the liberty of preparing the thread and needle so you don't have to struggle with getting it through the eye."

He gruffs and sits up. "What makes you think I'd struggle?"

"One night you couldn't find the TV remote. It was in your lap." Sarah stares at him pointedly through her lashes and then picks up their fabric swatches.

"Yes, well they make them too small these days, eh…" He looks down at the fabric and rubs his un-gloved thumb over it. "Let's get stitching!"

He catches the silly grin and eye roll from Sarah. She demonstrates first, taking the needle and thread in one hand and holding the others in the other.

"I tend to act on the side of caution and loop my thread through the holes several times. So"—she brings the needle up through the fabric from the bottom and then down through another hole. Then repeats with the other free holes to make an X design in thread—"and I also keep the thread loose. Space is important."

She brings the needle up through the fabric at the end but doesn't pull it through a hole.

"Then when I'm done, I bring the needle up, wrap it around the thread under the button and then back down to the back. Then I tie the thread, make it secure, and cut!"

She reaches for her stork-style embroidery scissors and snips the thread with a flourish.

"And now you try, Copia."

"Seems easy enough."

Sarah nods. "And yet, many adults don't know how to do it. That's really sad, Copia."

He's taken by surprise at the end and chokes, laughing. Copia eyes her, smirks, and pushes head-first into his first attempt. Sarah grabs another button and joins him in tandem.

"Up… down… up… down…" he mumbles.

"Dammit!"

The smell hits him before he sees it.

Blood.

Sarah pulls her finger up to her mouth to clean the small bead of blood away. In the corner of her eye, she catches him stiffening up, back straight, eyes trained on her finger. He jerks his head away as Sarah turns hers to look.

His voice is strained. "I haven't had human blood in a while. It hasn't been the same since…" He tries to keep her from seeing his face, how his eyes are blown wild. Maybe they can wait it out.

"Please don't hide yourself, Copia." She presses her hand to his thigh and feels him flinch. She gives him a reassuring squeeze. "It was only a tiny prick from the needle. The blood is all gone now."

He takes a moment to center himself. Copper no longer lingers in the air and the prickly feeling down his spine subsides. Copia breathes deep, in and out, picturing the stitching sequence as he does it.

Finally, he's able to turn around. Sarah hands him back his practice swatch.

"You're almost done, Copia. I know you can finish this."

Copia takes advantage of the moment and looks at her. The usually dolled up look she wears is pulled back to something far less involved. If he had to wager a guess, all she has is eyeliner that is now mostly smudged away to go with her pulled back hair. And underneath her eyes are natural dark circles that could rival his eye paint.

He knows it's a late hour and as he realizes the time, hopes Sarah can catch some restful hours back at Amelia's. How is she sleeping, he wonders. Copia is all too familiar with Sarah's penchant for burning the midnight oil when she can't sleep, exacerbated only by the fact that he hasn't been there to keep her feeling safe. He suspects Sarah isn't using her sleeping medicine.

They're both quiet as he finishes the last couple steps of the lesson. Sarah helps to cut the thread and she smiles.

"Now you can fix your shirts when a button comes loose."

"I guess I was going to have to learn eventually. This old bat can learn new tricks!" He playfully nudges Sarah's side with his elbow.

"And this bat needs to get some sleep." As if on cue, she yawns while gathering her supplies.

They both look down to the small furry creatures snoozing away in her lap, unbothered and perfectly pleased to stay there. Copia would hate to disturb them but he's torn between them and Sarah's human needs for rest herself. Eventually they scoop the rats up as slowly and soft as possible and deposit the cozy lumps back into their little travel cage.

The walk to Amelia's is mostly silent. In one of Copia's hands is the handle to the cage; in the other, he holds Sarah's. Their fingers laced together instantly.

At the door to drop her off, they both linger, desperate to stay together for just a little bit longer and clinging to any opportunity to keep talking. Copia raises the cage so Sarah can whisper goodnight. She asks him if he's made any progress on the new songs.

And when all avenues dry up, they simply smile and look across the small distance to each other.

"I need to go inside."

"You do," he nods.

Copia blinks and the next thing he knows is Sarah is taking a deep breath before leaning in quickly to peck his cheek with her lips. The feather light contact has his old, dead heart fluttering.

"Goodnight, Copia. Thank you for letting me see the rats."

He isn't able to respond fast enough before Sarah slips inside. Copia's tongue feels like it has swelled in his mouth and every word he's ever learned flushes down the drain. All he can do is stay rooted to the ground as his arms hang loose from his shoulders. Copia's free hand rises up and he touches his cheek with his fingertips.

It's a miracle he didn't drop the cage.

On the other side of the door, Sarah is leaning against it smiling wide and giddy for such a late hour. Sleep wasn't easy as always but by the time she's settled on the couch that night she feels just a small bit at ease.

Sarah wasn't sure what to expect when she walked into the studio sans Amelia again but it wasn't a gaggle of ghouls.

"Ames isn't coming in today," Alex says from their computer without looking up.

"I know…" Sarah says, voice fading as she takes in the tableau of infernal beings in the middle of the room. "She didn't mention this, though."

"We need some alterations," Mountain chimes in.

"What kind of alterations?"

Unfortunately, they all start talking at once.

"My jacket is too snug."

"I need my pants hemmed."

"Could you make mine tighter?"

"I ripped the back seam trying out a trick in rehearsal."

Sarah's eyes open wide, un-focusing in the chaos. She blinks back to the present moment once the noise dies down.

Her things are dropped to her desk.

"Let's start with the pants that need to be hemmed."

Aurora celebrates and steps up to the small platform in front of the tri-fold mirror. Sarah readies her wrist pin cushion and kneels down to fold up the excess fabric. The ghoulette smiles down at her, quiet and calm. She can tell something seems different about Sarah.

"Do you love pinning fabric?"

"Hm?" She flicks her attention up. "What makes you say that?"

"The little smile on your face."

Oh. Her cheeks flush pink. It was Copia that was on her mind. Simple things like hems make her mind wander and in that process, she'd drifted off to Copia. She remembered hearing him talk about the ghoul outfits, how he wanted them to have a certain gravitas on stage with him.

"I want them to look imposing. Like my own infernal army!" He posed like a bodybuilder.

Sarah had to place her bookmark to keep from losing her spot. She was being distracted by an excited Copia. He'd been detailing the new ideas in a puppy-like huff, eyes wide and a smile all the same. His fangs were sticking out as they always do, accentuating his crooked smile.

She kissed him silent moments later. Copia made a sharp surprised sound but melted into her only seconds later.

"I get it, amore," he hummed. "I'll leave you to your book."

"I love hearing about your ideas, Copia, really, but the story is really juicy right now."

Copia smiled, soft and adoring. "Tell me all about it afterwards."

It was a fond moment long before everything went topsy-turvy, one Sarah thinks of when she works on the new costumes. And for once, it doesn't come with a wince or a funky churn in her stomach.

Thankfully, Aurora doesn't press. She lets Sarah be. For now.

The other ghouls that needed small changes came to the stand one by one. They'd talk about random things, joke around, or their plans later but every time band related things came up, Copia's name came with a small teasing lilt.

"He seems less burdened lately," Mountain says. "I guess we have you to think for that?"

"Me?"

Dew, from the back of the room as he lounges longways in the couch, chimes in to complain. "He talks constantly. Ever since you had the courage to hold his hand," he gasps. It drips in sarcasm.

"Really?" Sarah asks.

"Yes. It's annoying."

She has trouble grabbing a pin and keeping it in her fingers. A small flutter of nerves churns in her stomach.

He talks about me. I still make Copia happy!

It's hard to remember how much time has passed since Sarah took up residency at Amelia and Terzo's couch. Somewhere in the back of her mind this morning, wrapped in warmth and softness, she thinks she's with Copia again. The weight of the blanket over her feels like his arm wrapped tight around her waist and everything else has been a very vivid dream.

As the cold reality sets in when Sarah opens her eyes, pangs of sadness ache in her chest. She can only think of one thing: Copia. To be near him, to touch him and see the handsome grin he shines at her in return when she kisses him first thing in thr morning. His new face makes him appear a bit more smooth and enchanting but she can't imagine the full look without his fangs.

She's now determined to find out.

Sarah wracks her brain for how to tell Copia the news. She can't simply just show up at his door, bag in hand. She owes him a big, fat apology. When Amelia heard the news after asking why Sarah looked so happy, she nearly jumped for joy. Happiness filled the apartment in bundles and Amelia felt flashbacks to her own tearful reunion with Terzo.

On the other end of the property, Terzo feels bright, ticklish sparks from his ring. He smiles and brings it up for a kiss.

"Let me handle it, dear," Amelia said. "If you don't mind."

"No, no, I could use your help." Sarah takes her hand and squeezes it. "I want it to be special."

Meet me tonight in the garden.

Copia flips over the note card on his desk, delivered wordlessly one morning. He taps the edge of it to the table as he thinks. The only other thing on the card was a time, nothing else. It's in Sarah's scrawled handwriting, this he knows, but everything else?

Nothing.

He has a reason to be optimistic. Things have felt downright normal between them and Copia feels like it could be any day now that he gets to finally take her home, to kiss her lips—hell—to hold her close for more than a few minutes! Every time they have to part ways, he has to fight against his desire to pull Sarah back and overwhelm her with his smooth moves.

He's been practicing new ones in the meantime, much to the ghouls' chagrin.

Normally, Copia could use the work of being a Papa or band things as a distraction but he's been ordered to take a break. It came as a shocking revelation when Sister Imperator came by yesterday.

"I heard you've been… busy. Stop that. You'll burn out."

What else was he supposed to do? Up until this point he was urged to work work work.

None of his normal distractions are helping. He's played through several of his games, watched his movie collection at least twice, and actually went down to the library to look at books that sounded interesting. Ultimately he left without anything.

He thinks about going into town to visit Marge but it's far too sunny even if he took his parasol for protection.

The day passes as slow as cold molasses for the both of them.

Sarah remembers the reality of this evening every time she checks her phone and thinks maybe if she hides under the blankets, the clock will move faster. A watched pot never boils etcetera and so on.

Amelia is helping with the dinner. Her and Terzo offered to have everything covered so Sarah could focus on herself and what she'll say. There's a notepad on the coffee table with her scribbles. The very simple thing she wants to say seems to be hard to articulate when Sarah tries to get it on paper.

I want to come home. I miss you.

That should be it, right? But she wants to talk first and ask him how he feels. He's owed that much.

Amelia comes home to a large lump on the couch with only a face sticking out. Its somber, downright stoic expression has her giggling.

"Get up, Sarah."

"Do I have to?"

"If you want to see your boyfriend, you do."

It's time.

Sarah showers and then as she gets ready, Amelia does her hair. It isn't anything too fancy; she only makes sure Sarah's loose, natural curls are neat and pulled back to show her round face. Sarah's hands shake at the counter. She's staring over her outfit, scrutinizing and second guessing. Knowing Copia, she could show up in sweat pants and a wrinkled t-shirt and he'd still caress the curve of her hips, squeeze her softness, and call her beautiful.

And she knows she'd still blush all the same if he punctuates it with a kiss.

Her dark green dress with bishop sleeves is casual and dressed up enough to work. The delicate necklace he got her with the cathedral window pendant sits just right above her chest. She slips on ankle boots and takes a few deep breaths in the mirror. Amelia places her hands on Sarah's shoulders and gives them a squeeze before they're off and out the door.

"You're going to be fine, Sarah. Just remember he loves you."

"Oh, is it that easy, now?"

Amelia chuckles. "No."

"How did you feel when you and Terzo got back together?"

Amelia sighs. "I was just as terrified."

"How did you know he would forgive you?"

"I had to trust him. I had to believe he was telling the truth even when my thoughts tried to say I wasn't actually good enough for him. Terzo was Papa but he's also just a man who often felt lost and alone. Our history made him trust me. I'd always been his lighthouse and then made the foolish choice to leave him in the dark."

"How poetic," she laughs.

Amelia winks. "Maybe he's rubbing off on me."

They're the last to arrive to the garden. Terzo and Copia are already standing at the stairs by the gazebo chatting with their backs to the path behind them. Then Copia turned at the sign of Sarah's scent floating to his senses. He could almost taste the anticipation on his tongue.

"Sarah…" he breathes. Sarah's hand falls gingerly in his outstretched one and he carries it up to his lips to kiss her knuckles. "It's a pleasure."

She flusters like a lovesick teenager. Her free hand rises to cover her mouth as she blushes. Copia keeps his hold on her as they step up to their table. Warm twinkle lights dazzle around them. They shine in her eyes and Copia could kiss her right there. It feels like a wedding with how they're all staged and he can almost hear bells in the background.

Terzo gestures to their chairs. "Please sit, you two. Dinner will be served in a moment."

Copia and Sarah are left alone after that. Amelia looped her arm around Terzo's and they strolled off like they had their own cozy date to get to. As their food is brought out by a ghoul, neither of them have said a word, too nervous and scared to pop the bubble.

Copia decides to make the first move.

"I never thought the clock would move fast enough."

"Neither did I." She laughs and flicks her eyes up to him. "You look good, too. Your, um, outfit."

"You're too kind," he simpers.

He really does look good, though. Copia went without his paints of any kind. His bare face looks back at her, wrinkles and all and she couldn't be any more drawn in. His pants and shirt aren't anything special but his jacket is one of the newer ones with frayed edges she had a hand in making. Sarah takes him all in and feels herself getting warm at the way the jacket makes her want to grab his waist where it contours in.

Copia keeps his eyes on her until she looks back into them. Sarah blushes deeper red, caught staring. He winks and smirks.

They both agree to wait for any important conversations until after eating. Until then it's light and easygoing. They share an ice cream topped slice of brownie for desert. Copia holds up his spoon for Sarah and she scoots her chair around the table to be closer, now next to him instead of across the table. He holds her chin in place and slips the spoon past her lips. She delights at the flavors, how the chilled ice cream mixes with the arm gooey brownie.

Copia feeds her another spoon just to hear the small, satisfied sound again. He wants to commit it to memory. He also wants to know what a kiss would taste like from her lips right now.

But like all things, they come to an end. Their food is finished, the table is cleared, and now it's just them and the crickets chirping in the background with the wind chimes. Sarah lays her hand on his where it rests on his knee.

"Do you want to talk now?"

"It depends on the outcome."

Sarah assures him, "You'll like it. I promise."

Copia nods and then stands up from his chair. "Then let's go for a walk."

He holds out his hand and being the gentleman he is, held up his arm for her to take as she stepped down the short stairs to him. Sarah laughs, breathy and playfully overwhelmed.

"I wasn't in any danger, Copia."

"Let me be chivalrous, okay?"

She rolls her eyes with a grin. "I guess I can allow it."

They take a turn out from the scenery by the gazebo and start down a lit path of hedges as high as walls. Their arms remain intertwined.

"So, the reason I called you here."

"Yes?" Copia turns to her.

"I"—her lips twitch up at the corner—"want to come home."

She can feel a backwards tugging on her arm and stops to look at what it is. Copia stands there on the cobblestone path, frozen. His mouth is open barely a centimeter and he only looks at Sarah like she's his only reason for living. Perhaps she is his purpose, the calm in the storm.

"Copia?" Sarah raises her eyebrow.

"Say it again."

She comes closer, smiling, coy. Her hand rises to cradle his jaw. "I want to come back, love."

Copia's sigh that follows is deep. Relief floods his body. He closes his eyes and savors the soft touch of her hand, the delicate brush of her thumb over his cheek. In the next second, he acts on instinct. Copia pulls Sarah close for a deep hug. He squeezes her tight, nestling her face into the crook of his neck, his palm coming up to cover the back of her head to keep her there. Just for a moment.

Sarah hugs him back and breathes in deep. The subtle, spicy scent of his cologne centers her down to her soul.

Once they pull apart, Copia grins wide. "Did you notice where we stopped?" A quick glance sideways has Sarah following.

"Our bench." It makes her smile.

Wordlessly and with only a simple look, they move to sit. They're right next to each other and Copia wraps his arm around her shoulders. Sarah's hand falls to rest over his thigh.

"I had a lot of time to think." She leans her head on him.

Copia kisses the top of her head and smooths down her hair. "And?"

"There was so much that changed and everyone just… adjusted immediately. I felt like I was going crazy because I wasn't doing the same. And—and then—I couldn't look at you. I felt awful, Copia." She sits up and turns to him, pleading. "I could close my eyes and hear you or feel you but I couldn't see you. The changes are subtle, sure, but enough all at once to make me feel like I couldn't trust myself, that I couldn't trust what I knew to be true.

"And then I left you and it broke my fucking heart. I was torn; I couldn't be with the person who made me happy because they were the reason for my anxiety."

Copia takes her hand tight in his own. "I'm sorry, Sarah."

She shakes her head. "It's not your fault, it was all me. The reason I felt off is because I never got to say goodbye. To the apartment, to your face had I known there was a chance you could've changed in the ascension ritual that night.

"I should've told you about that. I didn't think it would be a big deal." He scoffs and shakes his head.

"I'm sorry I screamed when I woke up. That wasn't okay."

"I wasn't expecting the new apartment to be ready that quickly either." He rubs his thumb over the back of her hand. "The adjustment was hard for me too. I'd look in the mirror and forget I didn't have a mustache to re-shape."

"I'm sure your facial hair horrors were just as bad as me losing my mind," she scoffs.

"Shit. I didn't mean it that way, dolcezza. I"—he sputters for words—"So much of my life I've had the same face, the same general look. I could shave in my sleep and then I'd look in the mirror and have to remember repeatedly that things were different. My whole body changed. I needed new clothes, my fangs shot back up in my gums from stress. Feedings got hard because human blood started tasting rotten on my tongue and I'd just throw it back up."

Sarah furrows her brows. "Oh, Copia! I'm sorry."

"Ghoul blood became the only thing that could keep me from snapping at everyone."

"I had a nasty feeling in my stomach when I saw that." She looks down at her lap, ashamed. "Somewhere inside I was jealous. I always thought I'd be the only one you drank from."

"If it's any consolation, ghoul blood tastes disgusting."

Sarah snorts and shrugs. "Maybe?"

Copia grins. "Their blood sustains me longer than a human's. I've only ever used it in emergencies."

Emergencies. Sarah repeats it in her head. I caused that.

The conversation falls to a comfortable silence after that. Neither one can think of what to say but maybe they don't need to. Copia settles his arm lower around her waist and Sarah cuddles closer. She keeps her palm over his chest and closes her eyes.

Under the stars, surrounded by string lights and Copia's presence, Sarah can finally relax. It's not until she blinks her eyes open and feels him lifting her chin up that she notices she was starting to fall asleep. It was so easy to melt. She flashes him a lazy smile and he returns with one.

"Take me home, Copia."

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting to hear that."

Sarah and Copia walk arm-in-arm back inside the ministry. He leads the way and she simply follows. At the hall where they would've taken a right, Copia pulls them to the left. Sarah hums a curious note. The hall feels familiar, though. Like a distant memory.

She's shocked straight up soon enough.

In front of them is the door to his cardinal apartment. Copia unlocks it and the door opens slowly, creaking at the hinges.

He gestures forward. "Shall we?"

"Co—"

"You said you didn't get to say goodbye. Let's."

"O-okay?"

Everything is covered in white cloth like she's seen in movies. Anything that hasn't been moved to the new place sits suspended in time. They look around at the old furniture before Copia lifts the white cloth from the old couch to sit. He pats the cushion next to him and smiles. Sarah comes to his side, bending her leg back to sit on her foot and lets the other leg hang off the couch.

Her elbow presses to the back cushion and then props up her head on her hand. "A lot of fun memories on this couch." The other rubs fondly on the worn material.

"Some good ones back in the bedroom, too." Copia smirks and raises his eyebrows up twice.

"Copia," chides Sarah. She tilts her head in disbelief.

"What?" feigning innocence, "I meant all of the funny movies we watched! What were you thinking of, hm?"

Sarah scoffs a high note and sits up. "Don't turn this around on me!"

"Naughty, naughty girl…" He wags his finger and pretends to feel hurt when she swats lightly at his arm.

"Oh my god, Copia."

They both begin to laugh softly, leaning into the other and Copia concedes shortly after.

But, god, her laugh. Her unabashed smile. Her face scrunches up when it's a deep laugh and her cheeks get really pink. To have the privilege of seeing it? Copia could swoon. He's spent so much time alone hoping for a mere crumb of her. Now he has a feast!

Right now the apple of her cheek looks too damn enticing and he remembers the sneaky kiss Sarah gave him some time ago. With the intention of paying it back, he starts to lean in, angling to press against Sarah's cheek as she recovers from her laughter. Inches away, she's still none the wiser.

But then Sarah turns to give her attention back at Copia and it's right as he would've landed on her cheek with his lips.

It wasn't her cheek he kissed.

It was her lips.

They both freeze with wide eyes. Copia pulls back to apologize, to explain, but anything he might've needed is superfluous. Sarah grabs him by his head and brings them back together for a proper, deep kiss. Her blood rushes in her veins; she feels alive. Copia circles his arms around her waist and Sarah wraps hers around his neck locking them together.

The kiss turns from an already passionate affair to something bigger and brighter. Sarah hums and her shoulders relax. Her spot is too far and she's growing tired of overextending herself. She breaks the kiss to catch a breath or two and they both take in the other's disheveled look.

She bites her lip and downright ogles Copia.

Copia whimpers a confused note. "Sarah—"

She practically launches herself to straddle his lap and whines into his mouth as they lock lips again.

"Shit, I missed you so much, Copia. I'm never leaving you never ever again."

Copia dares to nibble at her lower lip when he starts a sloppy trail of kisses down along her jaw to the divine scent in her neck. She's shaking and Copia cups her cheek and rubs his thumb along the top curve, slow, delicate. He savors the touch.

"I was so stupid, Copia."

"Shhh, amore—" He shakes his head in her neck.

"It's you. It's always been you and I just couldn't see past my own—ah!" she gasps, ragged.

Copia bit just enough around a sweet spot on her neck and licks after. It wasn't enough to draw blood but he knows he'll see indents from his teeth if he leans back. Sarah tries to babble her emotions out but Copia drags his thumb over her lips to still them. He leans away to look straight into her eyes.

"It hurt when you left, Sarah. Like the worst days of my life all rolled into one and I was so angry—"

"I'm sor—"

"Ah, ah. Let me finish." He kisses her. It's quick but reassuring. "But in all of this, you said you'd come back. I never for one second thought the love you had for me was completely gone. I had to hold onto it in my darkest moments. I've spent hundreds of years waiting for you to show up in my life and I was ready to wait another hundred for you to come back."

Copia leans in with all his might and gives Sarah a kiss she would've had to sit down for if she wasn't already. It knocks the wind from her lungs and she can only think to kiss back. Caught in a whirlwind of emotions, she whispers "I love you" to his lips. Once Copia lets her have a moment to breathe, he leans his forehead into hers and closes his eyes.

"Change is hard but it has to happen eventually and it doesn’t always come with a warning. Take it from me; I've been there and got the t-shirt to prove it. You see how I am with computers, eh?" A wry smirk twitches up one side of his lips. When he notices Sarah's wobbly attempt to keep from laughing, he feels like he's won something small.

"Copia," Sarah chides.

"What? You know I get frustrated with newer ones but what do I do?"

Her brows knit together. "You complain."

"But I still persevere."

She snorts and falls into Copia to hug him. Her head rests in the crook of his neck and they settle together in the quiet of their old home. Her hair is let loose after Copia picked out the two clips Amelia put in earlier and he combs down her dark tresses with his fingers. Her weight in his lap keeps him grounded and her scent floats around him like the most perfect perfume. He's wrapped in all of his senses of Sarah and it couldn't be more perfect.

Copia sighs and she readjusts. "You smell so good. Especially earlier when I was right at your neck." His palms trail up under the hem of her dress to keep hold around her thighs.

"You could, you know… I mean I'm fine if—"

"What?"

"Would you want a sip?" Her tone turns hesitant but curious at the end. She raises an eyebrow.

"Are you sure?"

Sarah shifts to sit up. She reaches down and grabs one of his hands to hold. "Think of it like an apology for how I made feedings so awful. I know you liked my blood the most."

She's proud and Copia smiles. "You really mean that? It'll hurt before it gets better, remember?"

She nods. She means it. "Please."

Maybe she can understand the pain he felt when his fangs pierce her skin. She expected him to yell, to scream, to make her feel the worthlessness she felt herself at leaving him and especially after hearing he got angry. Sarah holds him and leans against his forehead.

"Please, please, please…" she whispers, begging.

She trembles in Copia's lap. He can hear the erratic thumping of her heart. Copia pulls away and scans over Sarah's face. Her lower lip wobbles, her eyebrows are pulled tight to the middle.

"Do you think you need to be punished, Sarah? Will giving me your blood be the penance you desire?"

"Yes." Sarah's face twists.

"Look at me." Copia holds her up. "Any… anger I felt towards you was anger for myself. I messed up not telling you about the ritual and I could've fought to stay here for a while before moving into the new place."

He leans in and kisses her deep. It's another one for the ages, keeping Sarah from saying anything until she's panting and gasping for air as her throat burns.

But still, she grasps for something. "Co—"

"If I drink from you, it's because I'm not upset and that I love you." He kisses her softly and repeats those three words all the way down to the soft column of her neck. At the sweet scent of Sarah's blood pumping in her veins, he revels at the feeling of his fangs finally coming out. Copia grazes the sharp tips along the crook of her neck just to tease.

Chills trickle up her spine. It feels like coming home.

One last time, Copia whispers under her ear, "I love you, Sarah," and kisses her neck right before he opens his mouth wide to bite.

Sarah's blood flows onto his tongue like the smoothest most decadent wine he's ever drank. It's intoxicating right away and his head spins. Copia groans as warmth spreads through him. He pulls her tight with no intention of letting go and Sarah's shaky hand threads up through his hair to keep him there.

The sharp pain in her neck was the most sobering thing she's felt for months. The antivenom that follows after the bite spreads a delicious pleasure through her body. It overrides all the pain she's felt and she falls limp in his arms. The fight has left.

As stars start to dot her vision, she decides not to mention it. Instead, she murmurs a faint, garbled, "More."

She's gasping his name, repeating it like a reverent prayer. It's the last thing she remembers before everything goes dark and quiet in her head.

Pain throbs in her neck. It pulses, dull but still there as a stark reminder. It hurts to even move her eyes. Sarah grumbles but for the first time in a long time, two lips reach down and kiss her forehead. She opens her eyes, wincing, and finds she's held tight by Copia in bed, tucked under his chin.

"Good morning, amore."

Sarah blinks a few times. She's not certain this isn't just a dream. "What—?"

"Do you remember anything from last night?"

"I might've passed out?"

Copia smirks. "I drank too much." He rubs her lower back.

She closes her eyes and grimaces as she chuckles. "We've come full circle, hm?"

"We sure have," he laughs, too, and rolls into his back. Sarah stays on her side watching, admiring.

"I dreamt of you."

"Oh?" Copia raises an eyebrow.

"You. This face, your smile…" She trails her finger along his cheek and goes in for a kiss. "I'm not sure if I won't ever dream of your former face but I think when I wake up, I won't freak out."

"Like seeing an old friend?"

Sarah grins softly. "Yeah, maybe."

"Do you… not like my new face?" He's nervous. Insecurity weighs him down. In his more insecure moments during the separation, he thought he looked ugly.

"I do! Oh, Copia I will never think of you as not handsome. But your old look was so dashing and mysterious; it worked for you as a vampire. The new version of you is still sexy and you look so cute. You're charming, like a leader and still almost puppy-ish all together. I just want to swoon." Sarah leans in to kiss him just because she can and he grins against her lips.

"Do I look younger?"

She smiles, raking her gaze around his face. "Mhm. You don't look a day over five-hundred," Sarah teases.

"What about these babies, eh?" Copia flashes a wide smile back. His fangs are proudly displayed and she really does swoon in that moment.

"Well now you're extra sexy."

The old bedroom then fills with happy squeals. Sarah is pulled close and rolled onto her back as Copia looms above, smarmy and a twinkle of playfulness in his eyes. Then he descends and presses kisses to her cheeks, forehead, tip of her nose, and then finally to her lips. He moves slow and languid. Every intention right now is to savor this moment as Sarah wraps her arms around him with a hum.

She pulls him close until he's flush with her body between her spread legs. Even as dull pain pulses from her neck bite from the night before, she's totally and completely content. Finally being able to sleep through the night can work wonders. Though the handsome vampire who loves her and is now kissing her can also easily boost her mood.

Sarah's fingers card through his messy waves. Copia pulls away from the kiss to lean his head back into her grasp on his brown-gray locks. The smile on his face is downright dopey as he feels the love-drunk buzz through his body. Sarah looks up to him with half-closed eyes, soft and fond.

Copia falls to rest his head over her chest. He curls his arm underneath her waist with one and rises up to cup the side of her neck that isn't bandaged. The steady thump of Sarah's heart is sweet music while she falls back into a brief nap. The weight of Copia and the plush comforter over her was a perfect storm of comfort.

Eventually Sarah wakes back up and they need to leave for their new home. As Sarah stands at the door, facing the old apartment, Copia comes up behind and circles his arms around her middle. His chin drops to her shoulder.

"One last goodbye," Copia murmurs. "It was a great little home."

"Is another cardinal going to move in one day?"

"I'm not sure. Sister hasn't told me anything."

Sarah hums to herself.

On their way back home, Terzo catches Copia and Sarah having a moment at the door as he's dashing out a couple apartments down to get something for Amelia.

"Hey, get a room, will you!"

Sarah hides her cheesy grin in Copia's neck, snorting a laugh at getting caught.

"We're in love," Copia drolls. "Get over it."

But Terzo can see the tiny smile threatening to surface in the stern expression on Copia's face. He only huffs, amused, and walks off.

"Copia!" she whisper yells, scolding him.

He ignores it in favor of unlocking the door. Sarah freezes across the threshold and watches Copia walk around, back to the bedroom. He pops his head out once he realizes he's alone and tilts his head, curious.

"Are you waiting to be invited in?" He smirks.

Sarah's mouth runs dry and she fidgets her fingers together. "I just realized. The last time I was here—"

Copia is at the door, immediately, cradling her close. He wipes away the lone tear that spills from her eyes.

"Focus on my voice, hm? You're okay, Sarah."

"The tension from that night… It all flooded back. I thought I was done." She's wrapped tight against him and buries her face against his chest. "When will the guilt end, Copia? It hurts."

Ugly, choked sobs spill out, soaking into Copia's shirt. He scrambles as Sarah struggles to stay on her feet. The exhaustion that weighed her down struck its final blow. Copia gets her to bed and lays her down gently. He dotes, cooing that everything is alright as he works to make her comfortable.

Thry need to make new memories at the door. Happy, wonderful things to drown out the worst moment for the both of them as a couple.

When Sarah comes-to, she's cuddled to his chest in bed. Copia changed her into soft, clean pajamas from the dress she still had on from last night.

"I'm not sure what came over me."

"That's okay."

"You promise you're not mad?"

"We've been over this several times, amore."

Sarah sighs, "I know."

Copia rubs up her back, moving up to give a small massage to the base of her skull. Sarah nearly purrs into him, relaxing against his chest the longer he goes on. When her stomach decides to grumble and remind them that she does in fact need food every now and then, Copia slips out to heat up something while she lies in bed. Sarah sends Amelia a quick text as an update and gets a purple heart emoji in return.

—

Amelia: Terzo also says to "hang in there" and "These things take time but you have a great partner for it."

—

Right then, Copia comes back with a plate, a glass of water, and a napkin on a tray.

"White sauce pizza from Mama Isabella's—she sends her love by the way—and their parmesan knots."

Sarah is gobsmacked. "You just happened to have my favorites on hand?"

"I might've maybe prepared yesterday before dinner perhaps," he blushes, scratching behind his head.

Overwhelmed with the only emotion she can describe as pure love, she begins to tear up. Copia rushes to her side in bed fearful and concerned. He searches over her face, hears out for a quick heartbeat or something. All he hears is steady heartbeats and calm breaths.

"I love you so much, Copia." She turns her attention from the food to him and kisses the dumb look from his face. "Grab a blood bag, Copia. Let's eat."

"Really? You don't normally let me drink in bed."

She giggles and shrugs. "I'm too happy to care right now."

Copia's wide, toothy grin shines bright. His fangs nearly sparkle and he rushes to the fridge for any bag on hand and gets back in bed in record time. He knocks the bag against her glass of water.

"Cheers."

"Saluti!"

They eat together and Copia eagerly accepts a tasty parmesan knot from Sarah. He offers some blood in return, chuckling as Sarah scrunches up her face.

"Hard pass, honey."

He hums, delighted nonetheless and incredibly endeared. Soon, she'll devour a blood bag the same way she takes on her favorite dessert.

After lunch, happy and fed and feeling miles better than she was earlier, Copia lets her grab a shower first. He checks her bite wound and it's mostly healed over save for a small purple-yellow splotch. She puts her pajamas back on and peruses the new apartment while Copia showered after her.

The usual trinkets from the old place are still on display, sprinkled throughout the new bookshelves, tables, and the fireplace mantle. Things don't appear to have been used or moved around since they were placed. There's even some dust collected in some spots from the lack of use. Only the bedroom looks genuinely lived in with rumpled sheets and old clothes strewn about.

Something Sarah hadn't noticed until now was the little plushie cardinal of himself she made him and how it's sitting on his nightstand. The bed frame creaks slightly under her as she sits on the mattress, holding the old Christmas gift. It smells like him, his cologne and body wash all in one.

Then the bathroom door opens. Copia walks out fresh-faced, damp hair and a towel tied around his waist. It's quick, but he notices the way her blood rushed in her veins and the flush to her cheeks. She eyes him up and down and if he puffs up his chest just slightly, he'll deny it.

But then he notices the plushie and quirks his lips up into a quick grimace.

Copia points at it. "He kept me company."

"Really?"

"I ended up with a new routine when I'd come home at the end of the day. Shower and wallow in my own self pity until it was time to get up. Rinse and repeat," he sighs. Drawers open and close. He dresses quickly into a t-shirt and sweats. "I forgot how to be alone."

Something twists in Sarah's chest. "You don't have to be anymore."

"Yeah?" He sends her a lopsided grin.

A hum comes from the back of her throat and Copia drapes his arms on her shoulders. He's in her space now at the side of the bed and she opens her legs to have him closer. "You're going to have to work hard to get rid of me now."

Against her lips, he murmurs low, "No complaints here."

They kiss. It's light and sweet.

Copia kisses her a little deeper then, and pulls away only to have Sarah following him for more. He kisses the tip of her nose and chuckles and says they have something important to do. For a few minutes, she's alone in bed but hears the soft cooing from Copia at the cage. He's talking low to Bella and Rigatoni, excited to have a "family cuddle" again. The rats seem to squeak excitedly as if they know what he's saying.

"Come here, my babies. Oh, I missed you so much," Sarah coos. Copia drops one in her lap and then the other for him to slip into bed after and join in on the fun. She takes turns scritching through their ears and bringing them up one after the other to lay down a sweet smooch to the tops of their heads.

Copia could weep, it's so cute. They turn on a movie and cuddle together, the four of them bundled in bed as it was always meant to be. Something has slotted back into place and they both seem to come to the same conclusion as Sarah fits right against Copia's side to rest her head on his chest.

Guards down, hearts exposed.